Trolley-pole controller.



PATEN'TBD JULY 24, 1906.

A, L PRENTISS. TROLLEY POLE CONTROLLER.

APP-LIOATION FILED MAY l0. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATLNTLD JULY 24, 1906. A. L. PRLNTLSS.- TROLLEY POLE CONTROLLER. APPLIOATION FILED HAY 10 1905 Z'BHBBTS-SHBBT 2.

dzfyls ANDREW L. PRENTISS, OF BUFFALO, NET YORK.

TROLLEY-POLE CONTROLLER.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1906.

Application and may 1o, 1905. seal No. 259,702.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW L. PRENrIss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trolley-Pole Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of trolley-poles which are automatically lowered or permitted to drop when the trolley-wheel leaves the wire, so as to avoid damage to the pole, the wire, and its cross-wires or supports.

The object of my inventionis to provide the pole with'simple means for quickly and positively lowering the same in the event of the trolley-wheel umping the wire and at the same time to so combine the lowering mech anism with the customary elevating or tension spring that in case the depressing means becomes unserviceable from any cause the pole can be used in the ordinary manner. p

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a trolley-pole and base embodying the invention, showingthe position of the parts when the pole is in its operative position. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectioninline Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudi- 2 2, Fig. l. nal section of the valve mechanism mounted on the pole. Fig. 4 is a transverse section in line 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the pole, showing the same in its operative position.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A is a stationary base-plate adapted to be secured to the car-roof and having a fixed post or stud c. Upon this post is swiveled a horizontally-swinging pressure cylinder B,y

having an upright hub l), which surrounds the post. The reduced upper end of the post passes centrally through a diaphragm b, arranged in the upper portion of the hub, the portion of the hub above this diaphragm forming an air-chamber b2, which is closed by a screw-plug b3. An air-tight joint is formed between the hub and the post by suitable packing c, interposed between the upper side of the .diaphragm and a clampingenut c', which engages with an internal screw-thread of the air-chamber.v The upper end ofthe post a passes loosely through this clampingnut and carries a lock-nut c2.

D is the trolley-pole, preferably -consisting.

the upper section to swing vertically on the lower or body section.

E. is the customary depressing-cord, which is connected to the upper section d( .l

The branches of the yoke d straddle the cylinder B and arepivoted at their lower ends to opposite sides thereof by horizontal. pins or bolts f, thus permitting the pole `toswing `vertically on the. swiveling cylinder... The `branches of the yoke el are provided with depending arms g, connected bylinksdwitha collarrorrslide H, which is mounted upon a horizontal rod or guide H', extending 'rear-` `wardly from the cylinder B, this rodbeing preferably secured `in a` socket 7L at the rea end of thefcyhnder, as shown. l is a tension or pressurespring surround- Ting said-guide-rod andabutting at itsends against the collar H and the rear end of the `socket h. This spring .by its tendency.l to

urge the collar -H`rearwardly elevatesv the .pole and presses the trolleywheel against the conductor. l

J is a piston arranged 1n the pressure-cylinder B.` The piston-rod passes through the front head of the cylinder and carries` a crosshead K, the ends of which are `connected with the depending arms g of kthe pole by links k,

by which connection ther pole is Idepressed when the piston is moved forwardly in the cylinder.` L

The posta is provided with` a longitudinal air-inlet passage Z, leading to the air-chamber b2 and connected with apassage l. in the base,

which in turn is connected witha sourceof fluid-pressure, (not shown,) such as, a compressed-airtank.` The air-chamber b2 is connectedby a flexible tube, or conduit m with a valve-chamber N,preferably arranged, inthe head ofthe yoke d, asshown in Figs. 2 and@ This valve-chamber has an inletLn leadingto one end thereof and terminating in a nipple n', to which the adjacent endof thetube m4 1s connected, and a lateralvdischargefportg-nz,

terminating in a nipple n3, to which a eXible vother eXble tube is connected at its lower TOO IOS

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drawings comprises separate inlet and exhaust valves p p, adapted to close against seats 192 p3, arranged on opposite sides of the discharge-port n2, the seat p3 being formed by the inner end of a bushing, which is screwed into the lower end of the valve-chamber and through which the stem of the exhaust-valve passes. The stem of the inlet-valve p preferably bears loosely against that of the exhaust-valve but, if desired, both valves may be mounted on a single stem. To form a reliable oint between each valve and its seat, one of these parts may be provided with an annular rib p4, which enters a corresponding groove formed in the other part, as shown in Fig. 3.

The valves p p are actuated by the pivoted upper section d of the trolley-pole through the medium of a sliding rod Q, preferably passing through the hollow body-section D of the pole and provided at its lower end with a' toe g, which bears against the projecting end of the stem of the exhaust-valve as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This toe is formed on asleeve g, suitably secured to the lower endv of' the sliding rod and passing through an opening formed in the yoke-head d inline with the tube D of the pole, said opening being provided in its upper end with a screw plug or bushing r. S is a spring sur- I rounding the sleeve q between a shoulder g2 thereof and said screw-plug and tending to move the sleeve and the sliding rod downwardly in the pole, so as 4to withdraw the toe q from the exhaust-valve and permit the latter to close and the inlet-valve to open. The downward movement of the sleeve is limited by a stop or nut t, secured to its upper end and adapted to strike the screw-plug r. Rotary displacement of the sleeve is prevented 'by a screw 'or pin t', arranged in the yokehead and engaging a longitudinal groove t2, formed in the sleeve or by other suitable means.

In the ordinary operation of the pole the trolley-wheel is pressed against the wire by the tension spring I, acting through the slide H, links da, and arms g, and the piston J is at the rear end of its stroke. The pressure of the trolley-wheel against the wire tends to straighten or swing the hinged upper section of the pole downwardly on the lower section, drawing the rod Q upward and compressing the spring S. This movement causes the toe g to open the exhaust-valve p and close the inlet-valve p, as shown in Fig. 2, these valves being held in that position so long as the wheel remains against the wire. The compressed air or other pressure fiuid is` therefore prevented from entering the cylinder B, and the pole is acted on only by the tension-spring I.

When the trolley-wheel accidentally leaves the wire, the upper pole-section cl swings upward on the lower section under the reaction of the sprin S and causes the toe g to recede from the ex aust-valve fr, allowing the latter to be closed and the inlet-valve opened by the air-pressure against the face of the inletvalve, as shown in Fig. 3. When the valves are thus reversed, the compressed air is allowed to pass from the airchamber b2, through the port o', flexible tube m, inlet-port n, valve-chamber N, discharge-port n2, and flexible tube n4, through the port 0 into the pressure-cylinder B behind the piston, while the escape of the air from the cylinder through the exhaust end of the valve-chamber is out off. The piston is therefore forced toward the front end of the cylinder, overpowering the tension-spring I and depressing the pole below the plane of the trolley-wire and its supports through the medium of the cross-head K, links c, and depending arms g, thus preventing injury to the pole and said supports.

To restore the depressed pole to its operative position, it is only necessary to pull down onthe cord E, so as to again straighten the upper pole-section d and shift the sliding rod upwardly in the pole. This causes the toe g to reverse the inlet and exhaust valves to their former position, as shown in Fig. 2, cutting off the further supply of pressure to the cylinder and allowing-the tensionspring T to elevate the pole and hold it in contact with the wire, the air behind the piston meanwhile exhausting through the return-tube n4, dischar e-port n2, and the open lower end of the va ve-chamber N.

In my improved construction the valve mechanism and its actuating device are both mounted on the pole, and the connection between the same is simple and direct and transmits the movement of the pivoted upper pole-section to the valves without lost motion. A prompt and positive action of the lowering devices of the pole is thus-secured irrespective of the height of the wire. At the same time the elevating and pressure spring of the pole is so combined with the pneumatic depressing device that in case the' latter should be temporarily disabled the pole can be used in the ordinary manner.

I claim as my invention- 1f The combination of a trolley-pole, a

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spring connected therewith for normallypressing the trolley-wheel against the conductor, means for depressing the pole includ- Beef/s ing a pressure-cylinder containing a piston, means for connecting the pole with the piston, and valve mechanism mounted on the pole and controlled by the movements thereof and operating to admit the pressure fluid to the cylinder when the pole rises above its operative position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a trolley-pole, a pressure-cylinder containing a piston, a connection between the pole and the piston constructed and arranged to lower the pole when the motive fluid is admitted behind the piston, and valve mechanism mounted on the pole and controlling the admission of the fluid to the cylinder and operated by the movements of the pole, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a trolley-pole having upper and lower sections movable relatively to each other, a pressure-cylinder containing a piston, a connection between the lower section of the pole and the piston constructed and arranged to lower the pole when the motive fluid is admitted behind the piston, valve mechanism mounted on the pole for controlling the admission of the motive fluid to the cylinder and its escape therefrom, and operating means for said valve mechanism controlled by the movements ofsaid upper pole-section relative to the lower section, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a base having a stud or post, a cylinder swiveled on said post and arranged on the front side thereof, a piston in the cylinder, a connection between the piston andthe pole operating to lower the pole when the motive Huid is admitted be-.

hind the piston, valve mechanism mounted on the pole and controlling the passage of the fluid to and from the/cylinder, said mechanism being controlled by the movements of the pole, and an elevating-spring connected with the pole and arranged on the rear side of said post, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a trolley-pole having a pivoted upper sectionl` a pressure-cylinder containing a piston, a connection between the body of the pole and the piston, a valve-case arranged on the under side of the pole and having inlet and exhaust valves which control the passage of the motive fluid to and from the cylinder, and a shifting rod for said valves arranged in the pole and connected with its pivoted section, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a trolley-pole having a pivoted upper section and a lower section having a yoke, a pressure-cylinder containing a piston, a connection between the piston and the lower pole-section, valve mechanism mounted on the pole and controlling the passage of the motive fluid to and from the cylinder, a shifting rod for said valve mechanism passing through the pole and the head of said yoke and connected with the pivoted upper section of the pole, and a spring acting to lower said rod in the pole and applied to the portion of the rod arranged in the yoke-head, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a trolley-pole having a pivoted upper section and a lower section having a yoke, a pressure-cylinder containing a piston, a connection between the piston and the lower pole section, valve mechanism mounted on the pole and controlling the passage of the motive fluid to and from the cylinder, a sleeve sliding in the yokehead and carrying a toe which acts upon said valve mechanism, means for preventing rotation of thesleeve, a spring surrounding the sleeve between shoulders in the same and the yoke-head, and a shifting rod passing through said sleeve and connected with the pivoted upper section of the pole, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this Sth day of May, 1905.

ANDREW L. PRENTISS.

Witnesses:

C. F. GEYER, MAY E. MCARTHUR. 

